I am of the opinion that whilst parents can share their beliefs with their children, they should allow them to make up their own minds on the topic, as there is no evidence to support any religious belief system.
This is not only the opinion of pretty well all Christian parents (if not parents of other religions - but there are other reasons for this), it also mirrors the instructions that Christ gave in the first place. The famous saying that God has no grand-children sums this up very well.
Previously, I mentioned that this doesn't seem to apply to other religions since it seems that many of them believe that if you are born in a certain part of the world or into a 'believing' family you are automatically a Muslim/Sikh/Hindu/etc. Ironically, within the Christian context, whilst this was very likely true of some Christian denominations in the past (and still today in respect to one particular denomination), more recently it has been the other wayy round - the child has assumed their religious status from their parents - hence the huge number of people who tick 'Christian' on a census or survey form - because they think that growing up in a Christian family (or even nation) makes them a Christian.
As I have said before, my husband and I felt very strongly about letting our children decide for themselves about religion, we did not force our lack of belief on them. We knew how damaging it was to us that our childhoods had been spoilt by the 'you must be 'saved', or burn in hell', abusive dogma.
I suppose that I was like your children, brought up in a Christian family where it was made exceedingly clear (by a clergyman of all people!
) that once we reached a point in our lives when we could think for ourselves (and I get the feeling that Mum and Dad regarded that as about 7 years old) we couldn't hang on their spiritual coat-tails, but had to make up our own minds. In fact, with the possible exception of one family I know here in S. Wales, I think that you are the only person I know who wasn't brought up in that understanding, Floo.
Obviously, most Christian parents will bring theiur children up to at least understand the idea of salvation and their need of it, and I don't see anything wrong with it - it is certainly not abusive in any way at all. We all know, once we are even fairly young, that we do things wrong and that we need to sek forgiveness and 'salvation' even if that is only reconciliation with the person we have wronged.
Our daughters are moderate, non Biblical literalist Christians, and jolly decent people, of whom we are very proud. The daughters, who have children, are bringing them up the same way and letting them decide for themselves.
What, may I ask, is a 'non Biblical literalist Christian', Floo? Are you saying that they are evangelicals, are they 'high', as opposed to 'low' from a theological perspective; or are you saying that they don't believe anything that the Bible says?